Golem

Golem is an exciting engine - building game crafted by Simone Luciani, Virginio Gigli, and Flaminia Brasini, the same team behind Grand Austria Hotel and Lorenzo il Magnifico. The game draws inspiration from the 16th - century legend of the Golem of Prague. In it, players step into the shoes of rabbis, creating and nurturing powerful golems. These golems are then moved around Prague's neighborhoods under student control. But beware! An overly - powerful golem can destroy everything in its path. Players can also kill their golems for bonuses. You can create powerful artifacts and gain knowledge by collecting ancient books. The game is divided into four rounds, with each round having 7 phases: Refresh, Golem Movement, Actions (2 marble actions and 1 rabbi action), Turn Order, Influence Character, Income and Development, and Golem Control. At the start of each round, colored marbles are shuffled into a 3D synagogue, splitting them into five lines for five main actions: Work (activate golems in Prague for bonuses by paying Knowledge), Golem (get clay for new golems and upgrade personal board developments), Artifact (obtain coins and buy gold for artifacts with permanent bonuses and upgrade personal board), Spells (get Knowledge, perform spells, and upgrade personal board), and Mirror (choose an action by paying 1 coin). The number of marbles in an action line determines the player's gain. Picking an action means collecting a marble and moving a student in a Prague district. Advancing students helps control golems. At the round's end, use knowledge to control out - of - control golems; otherwise, they can destroy neighborhoods. Marble color is crucial as a correct color combination at the end of the round earns the favor of a powerful Prague character, which changes each round. At the end of the fifth round, score points for golems, artifacts, books, personal board developments, and collected goal cards.

How to play: First, understand the 7 - phase structure of each round. When starting a round, shuffle the colored marbles into the 3D synagogue to determine the available actions. Choose actions based on your game strategy. For example, if you want to create more golems, focus on the 'Golem' action. When you pick an action, collect a marble and move your student. Keep advancing your students to control the golems. At the end of the round, use your knowledge to manage golems that have outpaced your students. Attention: Don't let a golem get too powerful, or it will cause destruction. If a golem becomes uncontrollable, you'll have to destroy and bury it. Also, pay attention to the marble colors as they can get you the favor of Prague characters. Maintenance: Since this is a board - like game, keep the marbles, cards, and game pieces in a dry and clean place. Make sure not to lose any of the components.